FIBER ORIENTATION IN COMPOSITE STRUCTURES FOR OPTIMAL RESISTANCE TO CREEP FAILURE

The objective of this research is to provide an approximate but reliab le method of assessing various fiber configurations in a metallic comp osite structure with the intent of achieving optimal resistance to cre ep failure. The approximate method, envisioned as an early design tool , is based on an upper bound on the creep rupture time and an associat ed representative failure stress. The latter is evaluated and compared for different fiber configurations, thereby identifying the configura tion with optimal creep rupture resistance. A substantial saving in co mputational time is realized by avoiding a detailed analysis of the ac tual failure process. Application is made to reinforced thin- and thic k-walled cylindrical vessels under interior pressure.